Description

Accomack County's seventh book of court orders began with the court session held on 19 February 1682/83. For more than seven years, John Washbourne, the court clerk, took quill in hand to record the court's decisions. After the court met in September of 1690, Washbourne began using a new book for recording the orders, but he did not waste the blank pages remaining in the old one. He filled these with lists of tithables, deeds, inventories, cattle marks and odd entries dated as late as February 1697/8. These pages comprise a fascinating collection of accounts of boundary disputes, crime and punishment (whipping posts and pillories), hog stealing, runaway servants, contempt of court, fornication and bastard-bearing, assault, church and religion, economy, domestic violence, food and farming, highways and weather, livestock, household goods and clothing, occupations, taverns, tithables and more. Truly, "In wills and deeds the genealogist can learn about his ancestors' relatives and possessions; in court orders he can learn about his ancestors."